14 June 2002
Source:
http://usinfo.state.gov/cgi-bin/washfile/display.pl?p=/products/washfile/latest&f=02061302.plt&t=/products/washfile/newsitem.shtml
US Department of State
International Information Programs
Washington File
_________________________________
13 June 2002
(He names members to new Homeland Security Advisory Council) (2710) The challenge of international terrorism demands that the United States protect its homeland in a new way, President Bush says, and at the heart of that new way is the creation of a Department of Homeland Security. Bush announced June 6 in a nationally televised address that he would ask the U.S. Congress to create a Department of Homeland Security that will draw personnel from scores of existing federal agencies and have a cabinet-level secretary. "Obviously I wouldn't have done so if I didn't think it was the absolute right thing to do," Bush said at the first meeting of his newly appointed President's Homeland Security Advisory Council at the White House June 12. Bush created the advisory council March 19 to provide the president with advice on homeland security issues from experts representing state and local governments, the private sector, public policy experts and the non-profit sector. Following is a transcript of Bush's remarks and the text of his announcement naming the advisory council members: (begin transcript) THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary June 12, 2002 Washington, D.C. REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT MEETING OF HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL The Indian Treaty Room THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you all very much for taking on this assignment. Joe, thank you for your being chairman. And, Bill Webster, we've got a lot of talented folks around this table. And I want to thank you for agreeing to help our nation. We're under attack; just the way it is. The more we love freedom, the more we espouse values that are decent and honorable, the more we welcome religion in our society, open political discourse, the more this enemy is going to try to hit us. And we've got two courses of action. One is to run them down, wherever they try to hide, and bring them to justice. That's precisely what we're going to do. These people are the kind of people that -- they try to find a soft spot around the world and burrow in and plot and plan. And we're just going to have to enforce the doctrine, either you're with us or against us. You join the coalition of freedom, or you're on the other side of the fence. And we're making good progress, we really are. The other night when I announced this Department of Homeland Security, I made mention of the fact that our coalition has hauled in about 2,400 of these terrorists, these killers. The problem is there's still quite a number of them still out there. We're using our military -- we've got a great military, by the way. I'm really proud of the men and women who wear our uniform, and our nation stands squarely with our military. We're using diplomatic pressure. That's an important tool. We're cutting off their money. That's -- we've been fairly effective at cutting off their money. We can all do a little better job of denying them the funds they need. They don't need a lot of money, but they do need money to conduct their attacks. We're sharing intelligence. I know many members of this committee have been very much involved in the intelligence gathering capacity of America, and we're doing a better job of finding our weaknesses here at home, and working on the weaknesses. The CIA and the FBI now are doing a much better job today than they had been prior to September the 11th of sharing information across these -- what were once formidable jurisdictional boundaries. The culture of our agencies have changed since the war. The FBI has got a -- has got a new job, which is to prevent attack, and that's now their primary focus. And Bob Mueller is doing a good job of recognizing the cultural shift that needs to take place, of taking input, listening to people, and responding. So we're making progress, we really are. But until we rout out every terrorist cell and every terrorist, until attitudes change about freedom in America, we've got to protect our homeland in a new way. And I want to thank you all for agreeing to help us. You're breaking new ground, and you're going to help us leave a legacy, so that future Presidents, future administrations and future Congress can deal more effectively with how to do the most important job any elected official has, which is to protect innocent life. As you know, I called for the Department of Homeland Security. Obviously I wouldn't have done so if I didn't think it was the absolute right thing to do. I think it's important to focus the mission, through reorganization. I know it's going to make -- help us be more effective here at home. I also recognize how tough the chore is going to be. I mean, after all, we are asking people in Congress to give up turf, as they say, give up a little power. And I'm under no illusions that asking folks to give up power can be a difficult assignment. So one of the things I'll do is remind the members of Congress that this is not a political issue, that protecting America is an American issue. It's a duty we all have and that I vow not to play politics with doing what's right. I'll also remind the Congress that I am going to speak to the American people about this issue. Once I propose it, I'm going to take my case beyond Washington to the true influence -- the real influence peddlers of America; that's the American people, the people who work every day and who've got the capacity to inform their members of Congress or the Senate their opinion. And that's what I'm going to continue to do. I'm going to continue to speak as plainly as I can about the need for this department, assuring the American people that we're not interested in increasing the size and scope of the federal government, we're interested in efficiency. We want an organization that can work closely with local leaders such as my Mayor, Mayor Williams. We want to be able to respond better if something were to occur. We want to know how better to enforce our borders. We want to know when they're coming in the country and if they're overstaying their visas. We need to know that in America, under this new -- the new threats under which we live. We've got to -- I signed a bioterrorism bill today. I want to thank you all for coming for the signing ceremony. I saw Jim Schlesinger there, and I'm sure you're glad I cut my remarks in half, because the temperature seemed to be -- (laughter) -- seemed to be a little warm out there. But the idea is to better coordinate our capacity to detect weapons of mass destruction and respond to them if they occur. And, finally, we need an analytical capacity within a department that can take all the intelligence that's gathered, not only by the FBI or the CIA, but all throughout our government, and analyze it so we have a better feel for what the terrorists might be thinking, and then how to respond. And you all can play a very useful role in this -- in this process. You bring a lot of heft and a lot of experience and a lot of know-how. You can definitely help us understand how best to coordinate government activities with the private sector, and that's essential, that we team up to do everything we need to do to protect America. So I want to thank you for your service. I want you to know this administration is totally committed to protecting the people. Many of you are aware of the President's briefing he gets, sees or knows what the President reads and they're still out there. These people -- you know, these killers, they're still lurking around. But they picked on a -- they picked on a group of people who are plenty determined, and that's the American people. We've got a fabulous nation. And we're tough and we're determined and we're united and we're strong. And at the same time, we're showing the world that we're a compassionate nation, as well. We won the first battle, or we're winning the first battle in the war of the 21st century, which was in Afghanistan. And we went into that country not as conquerors, but as liberators. And I'm proud of our nation, and I'm proud of your service to our nation. And I want to thank you all for giving us your time. God bless you all. Thank you. (Applause.) (end transcript) Following is the text of Bush's announcement: (begin text) THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary Washington, DC June 11, 2002 President George W. Bush today announced his appointment of the following individuals to serve as Members of the President's Homeland Security Advisory Council. President Bush created the Homeland Security Advisory Council by Executive Order on March 19, 2002. The purpose of the Council is to provide the President with advice on homeland security matters from experts representing state and local government, the private sector, public policy experts and the non-profit sector. Joseph J. Grano, Jr., of New Jersey will be designated Chair upon appointment. He is currently the Chairman and CEO of UBS Paine Webber and a veteran of the U.S. Special Forces. He received a Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and the USO Gold Medal Award for Distinguished Service. William H. Webster of the District of Columbia will be designated Vice Chair upon appointment. Webster served as the Director of the FBI after serving as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. In 1987, Webster became the Director of the CIA, which he led until 1991. Since then, Webster has practiced law at the Washington, D.C. firm of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley and McCoy. Richard A. Andrews of California is presently the Vice President for Emergency Planning in the Risk Management Division of ABS Consulting. From 1991 to 1998, he served as the Director of the Governor's Office of Emergency Services for the State of California, and was the President of the National Emergency Management Association from 1995 to 1996. Kathleen M. Bader of Michigan is a Business Group President with Dow Chemical Company and the Corporate Vice President for Quality and Business Excellence. She joined Dow in 1973 and has held a variety of positions in sales and operations. Bader was named on the 50 Most Powerful Women in International Business by Fortune Magazine in October 2001. Dr. Jared Cohon of Pennsylvania is the President of Carnegie Mellon University. He is a national authority on environmental and water resource systems analysis. He served as a member of the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board and was named Chairman in 1997. In 1992, he was named the Dean of the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies at Yale University. Governor Michael Leavitt is the 14th Governor of the State of Utah. He was first elected in 1992, reelected in 1996 and then became only the second Governor in Utah history to be elected to a third term in 2000. Leavitt is also a past Chairman of the National Governor's Association. James T. Moore of Florida is currently the Commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. He was first confirmed as Commissioner in 1988, after serving with the Department since 1973. During his tenure, he has served as a Standards and Training Specialist, the Director of the Division of Staff Services and Deputy Commissioner. Moore is also a former member of the Florida National Guard. James Rodney Schlesinger of Virginia has a long and distinguished record of public service. He has served as Secretary of the Energy, Secretary of Defense, Director of Central Intelligence, and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. Schlesinger is currently the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the MITRE Corporation, a Senior Advisor for Lehman Brothers, Counselor and Trustee of the Center for Strategic and International Studies and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Nixon Center. Mayor Anthony Williams was elected Mayor of the District of the Columbia in 1998. Before his election, he was Chief Financial Officer of the District of Columbia, and was previously the Chief Financial Officer of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. His additional past positions include Deputy State Comptroller of Connecticut, Executive Director of the Community Development Agency in St. Louis, Assistant Director of the Boston Redevelopment Authority and Adjunct Professor at Columbia University. Dr. Ruth David of Virginia is presently President and Chief Executive Officer of ANSER, Inc., an independent, not-for-profit, public service research institution. From 1995 to 1998, she was Deputy Director for Science and Technology at the CIA and she began her professional career at Sandia National Laboratories. She currently serves on the Defense Science Board, the National Security Agency Scientific Board, the National Research Council Naval Studies Board and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Technical Advisory Board. Ambassador Paul Bremer, III of Maryland is presently the Chairman and CEO of Marsh Crisis Consulting, and was previously Managing Director of the Kissinger Group. He joined the Kissinger Group after 23 years of service in the U.S. Diplomatic Corps under six Secretaries of State. In 1983, Bremer was named Ambassador to the Netherlands, and 1986, President Reagan appointed him Ambassador- At-Large for Counter Terrorism. In 1999, Speaker Hastert appointed him as Chairman of the National Commission on Terrorism. Dr. Lydia Waters Thomas of Maryland is President and CEO of Mitretek Systems, Inc., and she was previously Vice President and General Manager responsible for the company's Center for Environment, Resources and Space. Dr. Thomas served two terms on the Environmental Advisory Board to the Chief of Engineers, U.S. Corps of Engineers and was Chairperson of the Chemicals Regulation Sub-Group of the United States Energy Association. Steven Young of Ohio is an Administrative Lieutenant with the Marion City Police Department, where he has served for 25 years. Young is currently the President of the Grand Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, and served as Vice President from 1997 to 2001. His past appointments in Ohio include service on the Governor's Committee on Public Building Safety and Security, the Ohio Supreme Court's Committee on Drug Abuse and the Courts, and the Ohio Attorney General's Advisory Council. David Arthur Bell of New York is Vice Chairman of the Interpublic Group of Companies, the world's largest marketing and communications and services company as well as the CEO and Managing Director of The Partnership, a global marketing communications group. He was Chairman and CEO of TrueNorth Communications until its merger with Interpublic, and he was previously the CEO of Bozell Worldwide. Bell is the current Chairman of the Ad Council. Sidney Taurel of Indiana is the Chairman, President and CEO of Eli Lilly and Company. He joined the Lilly subsidiary Eli Lilly International Corporation in 1971, and has held various positions Brazil, France, Easter Europe and London. In 1986, he became President of Eli Lilly International Corporation and then Executive Vice President of the Pharmaceutical Division in 1991. Lee Herbert Hamilton of Indiana is the Director of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Prior to being named Director of the Wilson Center, Hamilton served for 34 years as a U.S. Congressman from Indiana's 9th District. While in Congress, he served as a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs where he served as the ranking Democrat for 10 years and was the Committee Chairman during the 103rd Congress. Hamilton also served as Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, and as a member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress and the Select Committee to Investigate Covert Arms Transactions with Iran. (end text) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)